Radiator cap



Oct. 12 1926. 1,603,096

H. S. PARDEE y 1 RADIATOR CAP Filed Feb. 25. 1925 Patented Oct. 12, 1926.

NITED STATES PATENT orrics.

HARVEY S. PARDEE, OF RAVINIA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BELLE EVANS PARDEE, OF

RAVINIA, ILLINOIS.

RADIATOR GAP.

Application filed February 25, 1925. Serial No. 11,546.

This invention relates to radiator caps and with regard to certain more specific features to radiator caps for use on automobile radiator necks or filler tubes.

Among the several objects of the invention may -be noted the provision of a theft proof radiator, cap which may be readily opened and closed under all conditions of service, requiring only the simplest movements for so opening or closing; the provision of an exceedingly compact arrangement of parts in order to obviate interference with other parts of an automobile; the provision of a construction which may be economically fabricated and assembled; and the provision of a cap mechanism which lends itself to a simple, compact and graceful appearance outwardly. Other objects will be in part obvious and in partpointed out hereinafter.

This invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts, which are exemplified in the description hereinafter .in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings. ,in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section taken from front to rear showing a-motometer in place on the closed cap;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the cap in open position .On a filler tube;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the closed cap in position on a radiator-filler'tube;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4.--4 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional detail of a modified form of adapter.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 there is illustrated at 1 an adapter, threaded inwardly at 3 for fastening the cap to a radiator fill er tube. 5. The adapter l s a tubular cylinder provided inwardly and downwardly with said threads 3, an inner flange 7 above said threads, an up wardly located annular inner groove 9 above said flange 7 and an outwardly located circuflange 7 becomes the shoulder 13 which serves stopping purposes. The outside diameter of the adapter is usually greater than the outside of the filler tube for both inside and outside adaption of threads.

Outside of the adapter 3 is provided a rotatable sleeve or skirt 15 crimped into the outside circular groove 11 of said adapter. This sleeve 15 is malleable so that a simple rolling or die operation serves to properly crimp it. The sleeve extends downwardly to or below the lower edge of the adapter and protects said adapter from being tamperedwith.

Formed integrally with the sleeve 15 are two cars or lugs 17, adapted to receive between them a single ear or lug 19. The ear 19 is integrally formed with a malleable cap body or closure member 21. A hole which is bored through one of the lugs'17, through the lug 19 and partly through the other lug 17 receives a pin 23. This pin 23 is knurled at the portion which goes into the through-hole of lugs 17. In the blind hole of lugs 17 it has a drive tit. In the through hole of lug 19 it-is a hinge fit. The pin is thus adapted to be driven home in the lugs 17, after which its knurled portion is flush with the surface of one lug 17. The other end is hidden in the blind hole. The result is that it would be impossible to remove the body 21 and attendant parts, at this point, that is, with any degree offacility. Ghances for theft are thus materially reduced (see Fig. 4). Y

I The said capbody21 comprises an essentially cup shaped piece with a fiat top 25 thereon. The top 25 is bored centrally thereof to receive the threaded stem 27 of a r'notometer '29. A shoulder 31 of said motometer engages the upper surface of the said top 25.

A washer 33 engages the lower surface of the top 25 and is backed up from below by a split lock nut 35 engaging the threaded stem 27. A set screw 87 in said nut serves to lock said nut in its drawn-up position, that is, when said nut 35 is clamping the motometer to said top 25. In its clamped position the motometer should have the plane of its sight disc parallel to the hinge pin 23.

Seating against the. inner surface of the cup shaped cap bed 21 is a conical support 38. A decorative bead 39 spun. into the body 21 may serve to center the support 98.

The conical support 38 is provided with a horizontal truncation 41, for supporting a fiat rubber disc or gasket 43 threaded to the motometer stem 27. The gasket 43 1s composed of relatively soft material, preferably rubber.

The gasket 43 is positively clamped to a seat on the truncation 41 of the support 38 by means of a beveled washer 45, which washer is bored to receive the threaded stem 27 and backed by a nut 47 threaded to said stem 27. I

Thus clamped, the gasket 43 comprises a clamped central portion and an overhanging annular lip 49.

The intention, in this invention, is to have the lip 49 flexibly thrust or pressed downwardly toward the top edge 51 of the said adapter 1. In order to accomplish this an annular flat metal protecting ring 53 is provided on the top flat surface of said annular lip 49 of the gasket 43. The ring 53 is pressed downwardly by a spring 55 reacting against it and the cap 21. Thus the hp 49 tends always to be thrust downwardly, that is, longitudinally away from the cap portion 21, and when the cap is closed, seats firmly on the said upper edge 51 of the adapter. Since the gasket 43 is flexible, and is pressed to its seat by the spring 55 (also flexible), there always results a complete sealing of the adapter all around the edge 51, regard less of the relative alignment of hinge pin 23. Thus the cap is always tightly sealed when closed.

Into the inner circular groove 9 of the adapter is loosely sprung the split snap ring 57. (Figs. 1 and The metallic beveled washer 45 comprises an upper fiat wall 59, a beveled portion 61 and a re-entrant beveled portion 63 on said beveled portion 61. Of course the descrip-' groove 9 of the adapter is madelarge enough to accommodate the snap ring 57,

when said ring is expanded enough laterally to permit the cam surface 65 to pass through said ring. The snap ring 57 is made of spring material to provide a substantially circumferential resilient latching engagement with the cam surface (35.

The said groove 9 is also made deep enough to hold the said snap ring against movement longitudinally of the vertical cap axis when the ring is in its contracted position. When in contracted position the inside diameter of the snap ring 57 is less than the outside diameter of the cam surface 65. The outer, lower edge of the bevel oil has a diameter equal to or slightly smaller than the inside contracted diameter of ,said snap ring. The inner edge of the snap ring 57 is rounded so that the bevel 6 and cam surface 65, in traveling downwardly, exert a cam action on said ring to expand it into its groove. As soon as the cam surface 65 has passed through the snap ring, said ring tends to contract to its smallest diameter and in so doing rides against the upper beveled portion (31 of the washer 45, thereby drawing said washer downwardly. This draws the cap 21 and its attendant parts down and the lip 49 to its seat on the upper edge 51 of the adapter 1. The snap ring is, of course, always held within its groove 9 because of the proper relative proportioning of diameters between groove and ring. The ring is originally snapped into place in its groove.

The manner in which the cap as a whole is applied to a filler tube and then operated, follows:

The cap is opened and the adapter 1,

til the hinge pin and attendant parts are rearwardly positioned with respect to the front of the automobile Closing is effected, merely by pressing the motometer and parts fastened thereto, downwardly. Only one motion of the hand is required. The result is that the lower bevel 63 cams the snap ring 57 outwardly and into its groove. The cam surface 65 then passes through the snap ring, after which said ring tends to contract to its minimum diameter.

Upon so doing the snap ring rides on the upper beveled surface 61, reacts against the upper wall of its groove and so tends to draw down the cap and parts to a closed position as described. The lip 49 seats on the adapter 1.

The reaction obtained between the movable lip 49 and surface 51 of the stationary adapter serves not only to provide a proper parts from rotating on the adapter under vibration of the automobile. Thus the particular point at which the operator closes the cap obtains permanently until the cap is reopened. This position is prefe ably such that the hinge pin 23 is placed rearward and the motometer laterally fixed'as described herein. It should be noted that when the cap is closed, the lower edge 67 of the cap portion 21 slightly overlaps the point at which the sleeve or apron 1.5 is crimped into the groove 11. This preventswater and other foreign material from entering and clogging the. bearing surface between the adapter and sleeve.

To open the cap it is only necessary to push the motometcr upwardly, whereupon the cam surface slips upwardly through the ring 57, the cam action now being reversed. Like the closing operation, the opening one is extremely simple.

The simplicity with which this cap may be opened'and closed is of especial advantags in cold weather and under other adverse conditions. No intricate or small parts need be grasped by a perhaps heavily gloved or benumbed hand.

The caps compact size obviates overhanging of the hinge portions into the path of hood covers or wings, which wings of course must be opened and closed at intervals. In extreme cases, the hinge parts may be rotated from the rear (upon opening the cap) and no extraneous parts, ornamental or otherwise, on the sides of the cap, prevent opening of said wings.

Tne fact that all working parts of the cap are protected from dirtand weather is of great advantage.

-From the above it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are attained and other advantageous results achieved.

As many modifications of the embodiments above illustrated might be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention, it is intended that the above description and accompanying drawi ngs and claims shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

1. A radiator cap comprising an-adapter, an outside groove therein and a rotatable sleeve there around crimped into said groove,

and a body hinged to said sleeve, the crimped,

portion of said sleeve being adapted to permit rotational movement ofsaid sleeve without longitudinalimoven ent and to make a weather proof betweeiisaid sleeve and said body. p

2. The automatic means for sealing the hinged portion of a radiator cap tothe stationary part which comprises agroovej in the stationarypart, a loosely fitting spring ring held in said groove, a cam portion on the hinged portion adapted to openand pass through said ring upon descent, and adapted to be pushed downwardly by said ring after passage therethrough and when said ring contracts, a gasket clamped centrally to a portion of said hinged portion by said cam portion leaving anoverhanging annular lip, a spring reacting against said body portion for normally pressing said lip into'contact with the said stationary portion upon said downward action of said c'am portion.

3. The automatic means for locking the hinged portion of a radiator cap to the stationary part which comprises a groove in the inner wall of the stationary part, a loosely fitting spring ring held in said groove, a cam surface on the hinged portion extending within said inner wall of the stationary part adapted to open and pass through said ring upon descent and adapted to be pushed downwardly by said ring upon passage therct-hrough and when said ring contracts.

4. A. radiator cap comprising a stationary adapter, a closure member, and means for releasably latching said closure member in any position permitted by its rotatiom said last-named means comprising a spring ring loosely supported in the inner wall of the adapter for expansive movement but not.

for longitudinal movement, and a cam surface extending within the inner wall of the adapter and carried by said closure member,

and adapted to engage, expand, and pass through said ring.

5. A radiator cap comprising a stationary, adapter, a movable closure member, means for releasably latching the closure member to the adapter, said means comprising a spring ring carried by the adapter at the inner wall thereof, and latching means mounted on the closure member and adapted to be engaged by said spring ring when the closure member is in closed position upon the cap.'

6. A radiator cap comprising a tubular member, a closure member having a portion extending within the inner wall of the tubular member, latching means mounted on said tubular member at said inner .walladapter. a closure member therefor, and

means for releasably latching said closure member to the adapter, said means comp-rising-"a sprmg ring operable between the inner &

Wall of the adapter and a portion of the adapter, and substantially circumferential closure member extending Within said inner wall.

8.,A radiator cap comprising a stationary adapter, a hinged and rotatable closure member thereon, and means for releasably latching said closure member to the adapter, said means comprising a spring ring operable between the inner wall of the adapter and a portion of the closure member extending Within said inner Wall.

9. A radiator cap comprising a stationary adapter, a rotatable closure member, the adapter havng an annular groove in the inner wall thereof. circumferential cam means carried by said closure member and extending Within said inner Wall of said reoaose resilient means positioned in said groove and cooperating with said cam means to latch the closure member in closed position.

10. A radiator cap comprising a station ary adapter, a rotatable closure member, the adapter having an annular groove in the inner Wall thereof, a circumferential cam surface in said closure member and extending Within the inner Wall of said adapter, and means in the groove engaged the cam surface to latch the closure member in closed position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 21st day of February, 1925.

HARVEY S. PARDEE. 

